J Food Life Sci 2020 Vol 4 No 1: 42-49

Growth Performance of Tilapia Fish in Polyculture System

PERFORMANCE OF GROWTH IN TILAPIA FISH

IN POLICULTURE SYSTEM

Yunita Maimunah a,c*, Yuni Kilawati b,c

a
Aquaculture Study Programme Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science
Universitas Brawijaya Malang
b
Aquatic Resources Management Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science
Universitas Brawijaya Malang
c
ENFISHMO Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science Brawijaya University

*yunita.m@ub.ac.id

ABSTRACT

Tilapia growth in pond using polyculture system is higher than tilapia cultured in monoculture
system. Employing water column for fish and prawn culture to obtained higher production yield.
This research using experimental descriptional method and data were analyzed using
independent t-test, comparing monoculture and polyculture of Tilapia growth performance.
Specific growth rate of polyculture Tilapia at 4.46%/BW/day is higher than monoculture fish at
4.80%/BW/day. FCR comparison were 1,1 and 1.17 for polyculture and monoculture
respectively. Water quality treatments were at optimal range for Tilapia growth at 26-30C; 7,34-
8,36; and 5,3-8,8 ppm for temperature, pH dan dissolved oxygen, respectively.

Keywords: Tilapia, Polyculture, Length, Weight

ABSTRAK

Pertumbuhan ikan nila di tambak dengan sistem polikultur lebih tinggi dibandingkan
ikan nila yang dibudidayakan dengan sistem monokultur. Pemanfaatan kolom air untuk budidaya
ikan dan udang untuk mendapatkan hasil produksi yang lebih tinggi. Penelitian ini menggunakan
metode deskriptif eksperimental dan data dianalisis menggunakan uji-t independen,
membandingkan kinerja pertumbuhan ikan nila monokultur dan polikultur. Laju pertumbuhan
spesifik ikan nila polikultur sebesar 4,46% / BW / hari lebih tinggi dari pada ikan monokultur
sebesar 4,80% / BW / hari. Perbandingan FCR masing-masing adalah 1,1 dan 1,17 untuk
polikultur dan monokultur. Perlakuan kualitas air berada pada kisaran optimal untuk
pertumbuhan ikan nila pada suhu 26-30C; 7,34-8,36; dan 5,3-8,8 ppm untuk suhu, pH, dan
oksigen terlarut.

Kata Kunci: Ikan Nila, Polikultur, Panjang, Berat

in 2013 amounted to 909,016 tons, while the

INTRODUCTION
The value of tilapia production has
increased every year with an average
increase of 25.17%. The amount of
production is still not sufficient to set the
target where the production results obtained
desired target in the same year amounted to
1,200,000 tons, the production results are
certainly still far from the total targeted
production (KKP, 2014). The problem that
often arises in aquaculture in Indonesia is
fishery products that do not meet production
targets. This is due to high mortality
reaching 60-90% caused by disease attacks,

42
lack of feed nutrition, poor water quality,
and poor conventional cultivation
technology (Samidjan, 2006).
According to Sidik (1996), tilapia is
a superior freshwater consumption fish
which currently can be cultivated intensively,
semi-intensive, and extensively. Tilapia has
a very important economic value as the
economic support of the community. Tilapia
has an easy advantage in aquaculture,
growth is relatively fast, easy to develop. In
tilapia aquaculture there tends to be a
decrease in water quality due to organic
waste produced by excess food waste.
Monoculture maintenance can cause
ecosystem balance problems because almost
all shrimp gather at the bottom of the pond
so that the water can be said to be empty.
Biological processes that take place in pool
water are not controlled and can cause
plankton blooming. Utilization of
biocatalysts can be used to prevent water
quality degradation. One of them is the
utilization of plankton feeder which can
reduce plankton blooming, namely tilapia.
Tilapia can reduce the high risk of death in
shrimp. Besides that, there is a mutual
symbiosis between giant prawns and tilapia.
Utilization of tilapia has a good influence on
the stability of the maintenance media so as
to produce a fairly good survival
(Rachmawati, 2011). Therefore this study
aims to determine the performance of
growth patterns of tilapia that are cultivated
in monoculture and polyculture systems.
Material and Methods
The research method with
descriptive experimental method is by
designing an experiment and conducting
experiments. Data were analyzed using
independent t-test to determine the effect of
43
monoculture and polyculture culture
systems on growth performance of Tilapia.
The tools used are as follows: 4 pieces of 4
x 6 m2 cement pool with 1.2 m water level,
hose, thermometer, LUTRON pH meter,
LUTRON DO meter, spray bottle, Radwag
AS2201X analytical balance, large tub, ruler
, seser, nets, buckets and bowls. While the
ingredients used: tilapia weighing 4, 65 +
0.22 g, giant prawns weighing 5.78 + 0.58 g,
distilled water, label paper, and commercial
feed for tilapia and giant prawns. Based on a
literature review for the stocking density of
Tilapia totaling 300 fish / pond and for giant
prawns totaling 120 fish / pond (Rohmana et
al. 2015).
Experimental method with a
completely randomized design, each
treatment was repeated 2 times. Sampling of
fish length and weight is done once every 10
days and water quality temperature, pH and
Do are measured every day. The data
obtained were analyzed by independent t-
test. [Determine growth patterns by
determining the length and weight
relationship of fish in each treatment.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Tilapia Survival rate
Survival rate of tilapia cultured in
polyculture system has significantly higher
level (p value = 0.002) than the monoculture
system (fig. 1). Survival is the percentage of
fish that live to the end of maintenance
compared to the number of fish at the
beginning of stocking. Life survival value is
one important factor in the process of raising
fish (Efendi, 2003). From the observations
from the beginning to the end of the study,
the results obtained from the percentage of
fish survival rates are presented in Figure 1.
 J Food Life Sci 2020 Vol 4 No 1: 42-49
Growth Performance of Tilapia Fish in Polyculture System

97  

96  

95  

94  

SR  (%)   93  

92  

91  

90  
monoculture   polyculture  

Figure 1. Tilapia Survival Rate in Monoculture and polyculture system

The results of the t-test analysis
showed that the polyculture system gave a
significantly higher survival rate (p = 0.002).
This shows that the polyculture system can
maintain the survival of tilapia. Fish
handling at the time of sampling also affects
fish mortality. This is reinforced by the
statement of Kusdiarti (2011) which states
that mishandling of fish when collecting
data results in fish mortality. Survival is also
influenced by feed quality and
environmental factors. According to Hepher
(1998), the size of life is affected by internal
factors which include sex, heredity, age,
reproduction, resistance to disease, and
external factors including water quality,
stocking density, amount and composition
of amino acids in feed. In addition, stocking
must also consider several things including
population density, fish health conditions,
environmental factors, and harvest
techniques (Intercession and Abdul, 2016)
Tilapia Growth
Tilapia fish body weight gain is not
much different bbetween monocultured and
polycultured fish (Figure.2) because the
maintenance carried out in the same area
with same feeding regime. This is
presumably due to the optimal use of space
where shrimp are cultivated with tilapia
polyculture systems live on the bottom of
the pond and tilapia tend to be on the surface
of the pond.

44
 30  
25  

Weight  (g/day)  
20  
15  
10  
5  
0  
0   10   20   30  
Days  

monoculture   polyclture  

Figure 2. Specific growth rate of tilapia in different culture systems

According to Tahe (2012), growth that monoculture system obtained a value of b =

occurs in fish is influenced by internal and 0.6636, indicating that the growth pattern of
external factors. Internal factors are heredity, Tilapia in the monoculture system is
gender, age, and resistance to disease, while negative allometric with a value of b <3.
external factors are the availability of feed Regression graph of the relationship
and the environment. Water quality factors between length and weight of monoculture
also affect the growth rate in fish. The Tilapia with the equation y = 0.6636x +
nitrification process that is assisted by the 1.3776 (Figure 3) with a value of R ² =
bacteria Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter to 0.5202. the coefficient of determination
convert ammonia to nitrite and then to shows that 52% increase in fish weight due
nitrate requires time in its overhaul. to length increase while 48% is influenced
by other factors such as temperature, feed,
Weight length relationship age and disease.
The results of the analysis of the lenght
weight relationship in fish kept in the

y  =  0.6636x  +  1.3776  
3.1   R²  =  0.52022  

3.05  
3  
Ln  W  

2.95  
2.9  
2.85  
2.2   2.25   2.3   2.35   2.4   2.45   2.5  
Ln  L  

Figure 3. Linier regression (Ln) of Tilapia length (L) and weight (W) in monoculture system

45
 This also shows that the total body length of Tilapia. Graph analysis results of growth
does not significantly affect the total weight patterns of tilapia have a similar growth
of Tilapia. Graph analysis results (Figure 4) pattern between the results of observations
growth patterns of tilapia have a similar with prediction results. Tilapia reared in the
growth pattern between the results of polyculture system gives a long weight
observations with prediction results. relationship that is not different from the
polyculture system. However, fish growth in
This also shows that the total body length polyculture systems is better than
does not significantly affect the total weight monoculture systems.

21.5  
21  
20.5  
20  
19.5  
W  

19  
18.5  
18  
17.5  
17  
0   2   4   6   8   10   12   14  
L  

measurement   predicAon  

Figure 4. Length (L) and Weight (W) relationship

y  =  0.422x  +  2.0224  
R²  =  0.3844  
3.1  
3.08  
3.06  
3.04  
Ln  W  

3.02
 
3
 
2.98
 
2.96
 
2.94
 
2.92
 
2.25
  2.3
  2.35
  Ln
 L
  2.4
  2.45
  2.5
 
Figure 5. Linear regression (Ln) of length weight relationship in Tilapia polycultured
 23
22
21
W
20
19
18
0
  2
  4
  6
  8
  10
  12
  14
measurement
  predicAon
Figure 6. Length (L) and weight (W) relationship Tilapia in Polycultured
The results of the analysis of the
long weight relationship in fish kept in the
polyculture system obtained a b value of
0.4220, indicating that the growth pattern of
Tilapia in the polyculture system (Figure 5)
is negative allometric with a value of b <3.
Regression graph of the relationship
between length and weight of monoculture
Tilapia with the equation y = 0.422x +
2.0224 with R² = 0.38. The coefficient of
determination shows that 38% of the weight
gain of the fish is due to the increase in
length while 62% is influenced by other
factors such as the availability of natural
food and utilization of leftover food from
polyculture shrimp feed. This shows that in
this study the pattern of long-weight
relationship of tilapia was not influenced by
monoculture and polyculture culture
systems.
This also shows that the total body length
does not significantly affect the total weight
of Tilapia. Graph analysis results (Figure 6)
growth patterns of tilapia have a growth
pattern that is similar between the results of
observations with prediction results. The
value of b in polyculture tilapia tends to be
lower than that of monoculture, this is
presumably due to the high activity of
polyculture tilapia in moving and swimming,
especially for foraging activities with a
population of more cultivated organisms
than monoculture. Muchlisin (2010) which
states that the size of the value of b can be
47
L
influenced by the behavior of fish, for
example fish that swim actively show b
values lower than fish that swim passively.
Sparre and Venema (1999) say that fish
which have a large total length, tend to live
long and have a low coefficient of growth
rate and vice versa
Water quality
The average temperature values show the
results on maintenance media with
polyculture treatment of 26-300C and
control of 26-300C. The temperature range
in each maintenance media does not differ
much and is still at the optimum condition
for fish maintenance. Temperature changes
in the study are considered quite good,
because according to Kordi and Tancung
(2007), that the optimal temperature range
for cultivation is 25-30 0C. Temperature in
public waters is an important factor for the
life of an organism because temperature
affects both the activity and metabolism of
the organism (Aslan, 1995).
Measurement of pH value showed that in
the maintenance media with polyculture
treatment in average of 7.14-7.86 and
control of 7.84-8.36 the pH range was
included in the optimum value, a good pH
for freshwater fish aquaculture activities
ranging from 6-9, the pH is also affected by
different depths in the waters. According to
Supriyadi (2004), the pH of water needed by
fish varies. The normal pH range for fish in
 J Food Life Sci 2020 Vol 4 No 1: 42-49
Growth Performance of Tilapia Fish in Polyculture System
general is 6.5-8.5. Aquatic conditions that
are too acidic or too alkaline will endanger
the survival of the organism because it can
interfere with metabolism. According to
Tatangindatu et al. (2013), pH in the range
of 6.8-8.2 is still feasible for fish farming
business, because the ideal pH for
freshwater biota is between 6.8-8.5. Very
low pH causes toxic to aquatic organisms,
on the contrary a high pH can increase the
concentration of ammonia in water which is
also toxic to aquatic organisms.
From the average value of dissolved
oxygen shows the results on maintenance
media with polyculture treatment of 4.98-
8.51 mg / l and control of 5.32-8.8 mg / l.
According to Affan (2012), the solubility of
oxygen in water is affected by temperature,
salinity and air pressure. An increase in
salinity temperature and pressure causes a
decrease in oxygen. According to Kordi and
Tancung (2007), the main source of oxygen
in a peraina comes from a process of
diffusion from free air and photosynthesis of
organisms that live in waters. DO value is
very instrumental in the process of
absorption of food by living things in water.
The optimal range of dissolved oxygen in
aquaculture is between 5-7 mg / l.
The results of nitrate measurements
showed that the maintenance ponds with a
polyculture system had values ranging from
0.26–0.52 mg / l, in the control pool they
had a range of 0.31–0.32 mg / l. Nitrate
values in both ponds are in a good range for
aquatic plants which can then be consumed
by fish and shrimp. According to
Tatangindatu et al. (2013), nitrate (NO3) is
the main form of nitrogen in natural waters
and is a major source of nutrients for the
growth of phytoplankton and other aquatic
plants. Nitrate levels of more than 5 mg / l
illustrate that water pollution has occurred.
The results of orthophosphate
measurements showed that the maintenance
ponds with a polyculture system had values
ranging from 0.026 to 0.077 mg / l, the
control ponds had a range of values of
0.036-0.045 mg / l. The orthophosphate
value in the treatment pond is still in the
normal range for the waters. According to
Warsa et al. (2006), orthophosphate is a
48
form of phosphorus that can be utilized
directly by aquatic plants for phytoplankton
growth and subsequently utilized by fish and
shrimp.
CONCLUSSION
Polyculture cultivation can improve the
survival and growth of tilapia and provide
growth patterns that are not different from
the monoculture system maintenance of fish.
Maintenance water quality does not differ
between monoculture and polyculture. Thus
the addition of organisms in polyculture can
improve the use of space and feed more
efficiently than monoculture.
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